May 2011 Radiation

I recieve 5 total zaps.  The first and second are at the 11 o'clock spot for 15 seconds. The third at the 3 o'clock spot for 17 seconds and the final two are in my armpit area for 20 seconds. My skin is breaking down so bad that it became infected. My RO put me in the hospital for a couple of days so he could give me antibiotics through an IV. But he told me that skin in a week behind in reaction to the radiation treatments. Yesterday I recieved my 25th out of 38 treatments, so I'm getting there. Yay!!!

My RO, too, says the radiation has nothing to do with my aches and stiffness.  She theorized it might be a delayed reaction to the Taxol.  Of course, I'm 7 weeks PFC, so it must be really delayed . . .  Just know I'm tired of walking around like my 97-year-old grandma.

JulieH
I'm feeling the same way. I'm home with my two boys (4 and 2) on M and F and today...thank goodness they took an awesome nap. I napped w them from 12:30 to almost 4!

I was wiped out.

Congratulations to all the women who will be done or are already done.
My final day is due to be July 8th. Can't wait. My skin is really starting to suffer. I'm glad to have the weekend off.

24/30 done...only 6 more to go! Don't ask about the scratchers lol.

My poor underarm is magenta and I have a bright magenta area on my areola...thank heavens I only have one more whole breast session on Monday (and that it's the weekend)! Boosts starting next Tuesday and they'll set me up on Monday after my rads. I heard them talking about a bolus while I was dressing and I think they were talking about my boost setup!

Congrats again to those who have finished and I hope the weekend brings some peace and comfort to those who are having side effects!  

Today was my last day of radiation! I went in at 9 a.m. And again at 3:15 so that I would not have to go back on Monday. I will definitely miss my techs. They were always so cheerful. There were lots of hugs today. I made great friends in the waiting room as well. Everyone had an interesting story. If it wasn't for my poor, sore and very red radiated chest, I would have to say that - in a strange way- I will actually miss it.

My DH calculated that we put the equivalent miles on the car of driving all the way to New Mexico since we started going to the hospital in November. Perhaps we could use that time and gas money for something less painful and a whole lot MORE fun.

To all the brave women on the May rads boards, congratulations on making it through your part of this journey. I'm sorry that so many of you have had such a rough time. It will eventually get better. When you need encouragement, advice or a place to let off steam, you know where to come.

Gmafoley~ I've had arm trouble for 20 years, bad.....is it swelling? I have permanent tendinitis in the elbow....ouch.....when it flares up my whole arm swells up.  It's hard to "see" it swollen sometimes but I can feel it.  My arm will feel heavy.  Right after my lumpectomy (same side as arm trouble go figure) my arm was visibly swollen - fingers would swell up if I didn't move my arm.  Radiation aggravated the arm swelling a bit, but I think it was from the positioning of the arms.

julieH~ I had weird pains in my knee and hips about six weeks after chemo.  Happy to say now whatever it was has resolved itself.  I started to wonder if that's how I was feeling before chemo, then all the steroids they gave me during treatment made the aches feel better, and chemo head made me forget it all! lol. 

Congrats to everyone that's done - see you on the "after radiation" threads! 

Sagina: My arm doesn't seem to be swelling except where everything is in spasm on the underside of my arm up where the bicep and pectoralis meet..  alot of nerve type pain ..the doc says aleve and I can put a cold compress(not ice) on it and alternate it with a warm cloth (but is afraid that would make it worse)...then gave me the warning: if you get any swelling of the arm have it checked out asap even if I have to go into emergency...  I hate when they say that! 

congratulations on finishing maggie,  at least i'm half way now   17/33

Hopefortom   My RO did not dismiss my symptoms,  but had that look on his face that said prop not the radiation.  Then what?  I am like a 95 yo walking, not taking tamox yet till after rads.  the ones that do think I'm crazy is the chemo nurses, they always said when they asked me about my SE's !is "that I am different"  Well I had the same SE as everyone else here, no different.  they need to learn their job, and study up.  i was very sick yesterday after Herceptin which usually doesnt happen, felt like chemo again, like I got the wrong drug.  Anyways, I dont really know what is what anymore, my body is just rebelling big time.

Congrats to all who are done...now on to the healing!!

I had the bolus every time. That's probably why my chest is so red!

As far as the scratch offs go, I have won a grand total of $7.

$33 spent on scratch offs. Reward for Throwing the last loser into the trash...priceless.....because that meant that I was done.

TonLee:  Thanks for the guidance, Obiwan!  My tumor was at the chest wall so perhaps that wasn't me they were talking about! I'll definitely quiz them if it looks like they want to do that!

I am having trouble figuring out something...perhaps you guys can help! I've read that you continue to "cook" for a week or two after they stop but if you heal some over a weekend, then how is it you can continue to get worse and redder once they stop? That doesn't make sense to me...have I misunderstood something? Thanks!

Newatthis, I'm sorry, I don't know....how scary!

Tina, that's a really great question!!  Now I am wondering the same thing because my techs said a week or two after I'll be the worst....but just like you said...I start healing over the weekend.

Hmmmm.

Anyone a couple weeks out??

What are the tattoos that everyone arectalking about I go tobthe RO July 6th. I am supposed to go on vacation July 16 any chance I will have to cancel.

Aet - Welcome! I will ditto what tinaj said about the tats. They're nothing and they help the whole process be more precise. I didn't even feel them when they made them and practically need a magnifying glass to find them.

TonLee - I'm 5 days out and my rash seems to be clearing up. I've also heard there can be a delayed effect. I'm crossing my fingers that's a possibility they warn us about, but that it doesn't always happen. (BTW - the Dawn is working great on the Aquaphor grease stains. All gone!)

NewatThis - Yikes! I hope you're feeling better and have no more attacks. Which side are they treating?

Be well and stay strong everybody.